Method and device to increase thrust and efficiency of jet engine

ABSTRACT

A method and device for adding special substances to the gaseous outflow of the jet engine in order to create a “virtual wall” of increased pressure zone behind the jet engine nozzle which can serve as a support for the jet engine gas outflow to push against, thus increasing the thrust power of the jet engine. This increase in acceleration power results in the accelerated movement of the jet engine equipped vehicle or higher fuel efficiency. A device that adds the special substances to the gaseous outflow is proposed. Characteristics of the special substances, which if added into the jet engine gaseous outflow may create a “virtual wall” of increased pressure zone behind the jet engine, are proposed.

This application claims the benefit of the provisional application60/835,472 filed on Aug. 4, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION, PREVIOUS ART

Jet engines are used in a variety of fields with military and civilianapplications. These engines are used not only in planes, rockets andspacecraft, as they are able to propel vehicles at large speeds, butalso on boats (surface boats and submarines) and wheeled vehicles. Jetengines create movement and increase the speed by pushing out a columnof gasses (or water in water jet engines), which, in accordance withNewton's third law, pushes the vehicle forward in the oppositedirection. The force that is created by the jet engine to overcome thevehicle's drag is called thrust.

A jet engine in its traditional version (See FIG. 1) consists of thefollowing main units: an air inlet (1), compressor (2), fuel inlets (3),a combustion chamber (4), turbine (5), and nozzle (6). Incoming airflows in through an inlet (1) and compressor (2) then enters acombustion chamber (4). There it is mixed with fuel and ignited. Then itis forced out through the nozzle (6) in the form of a high-pressure hotcolumn of gas (7) creating thrust. Other designs for a jet engineinclude turbo fan, ramjet and others. Acceleration, speed and fuelefficiency of a jet engine depend on its ability to generate thrust. Inprior art there are known solutions to increase thrust based on optimaldesigns of internal parts of the jet engine such as an air inlet (1),compressor (2), fuel inlets (3), a combustion chamber (4), turbine (5),and nozzle (6).

There are also known solutions in which external structures are used toincrease the jet engine thrust (acceleration). For example, to allow fora more efficient takeoff, aircraft carriers have retractable walls,which are put in place behind a jet engine when a jet plane takes off toallow the column of outflow gases to push against such a wall to createadditional thrust and acceleration on top of the thrust of gaseousoutflow, in accordance with Newton's third law. Additional thrust isproduced because the hot gases that flow out from the engine are stoppedby the wall and cannot easily dissipate into the surrounding atmosphere.Newly generated outflow gases push on the then not dissipated increasedpressure zone from the previous jet engine outflow gases, thus creatingthe extra thrust. As a result, the plane is able to reach theappropriate speed faster. Proposed in this invention is a new method anddevice to increase the thrust power of the jet engine outflow by addingspecial substances into the jet engine out flow. Such a method can beapplied to any of the above-discussed jet engines or any newly developedjet engines that have an outflow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is known that putting a real wall behind the jet engine will resultin more thrust and better acceleration of the vehicle because the jetengine outflow gases can push against the wall. In this patentapplication, the creation of an increased high-pressure zone behind theengine nozzle is proposed. Such a high-pressure zone will serve as a“virtual wall” against which, the outflow gasses can push. To createsuch a high-pressure zone, also known as the “virtual wall”, specialsubstances will be added into the internal area of the jet engine and/orinto the area behind the nozzle so that under influence of the specialsubstances the area immediately behind the nozzle will become denserthan it would without adding such substances. This will result in thecreation of a “virtual wall” behind the jet engine nozzle, which will“travel” with the engine nozzle. By sending such special materialscontinuously into the outflow gasses, the “virtual wall” willcontinuously reproduce itself. It also may be beneficial to supply suchspecial substances into the gaseous outflow in accordance with acertain, optimally chosen schedule, so that the “virtual wall” will beproduced in time intervals, for example at take off or at other times ofjet vehicle acceleration. The device to deliver such special substancesis proposed to include all or some of the following elements (FIG.2): 1) a member (8) which will produce or store such special substances(10) 2) substance delivery system (9) 3) inlets (inlet valves) (12) todeliver such substances into the interior areas of the jet engine whichcan be located at the any area of the jet engine: air inlet, and/orcompressor or fan, and/or combustor (burner), and/or turbine (engine)and/or an exit nozzle as well as outside the nozzle opening area, 4) avalve (13) which optimally regulates flow of special substance (10) intothe corresponding area of the jet engine. All or some of the abovelisted elements of the device to deliver special substances can belocated outside or inside of the jet engine depending on its particulardesign. The special substance material used for the creation of such a“virtual wall” of increased pressure behind the nozzle may be gaseous(including but not limited to oxygen, water vapors etc.), liquid(including but not limited to water, alcohol, etc.), solid, organic, ornon-organic but it should be able to increase its volume (or volume ofdevices made from such material in the gaseous outflow reaching the areabehind the jet engine nozzle thus creating the “virtual wall” ofincreased pressure). One of the examples of possible materials(substances) to create such a “virtual wall” can be expandable plasticballs. Such balls would be made from expandable material and will befilled inside with expandable gaseous or liquid material. Under normalpressure such balls will have a sizeable volume. However, if put underhigh pressure they should be compressed into a very small size (10)which will allow for an easy flow of such balls through the jet enginevalves and nozzle. When such compressed balls will exit the jet nozzlethey will start to expand as the pressure of gaseous outflow will fallthus creating the “virtual wall” (11) which will provide additionalsupport and thrust to new gaseous outflow. As an additional advantage,such balls should be made from biodegradable materials. So, in theillustration embodiment FIG. 2, the balls are held in a compressed state(10) in the storage tank (8) under a high pressure that is similar to orhigher than the working pressure at the jet engine nozzle area. In thiscompressed state, the balls are added into gaseous outflow in the nozzlearea (6) through a pipe (9) and inlet (12).

Another example of a possible expandable substance can be water. Whenadded into the immediate vicinity of the jet engine nozzle outside thenozzle itself, water will expand because of high temperatures of theoutflow gasses. This will result in the creation of an additionalhigh-pressure zone which will serve as a “virtual wall” to push outflowgasses back, increasing the thrust. As shown on illustration FIG. 3,water can be delivered to the nozzle area from the storage tank (8)through pipes (9). Alternatively water, water vapors, or oxygen can alsobe delivered directly into the air inlet or other areas of the jetengine. The design of current airplanes can be easily adjusted tosupport water spraying into the engine gases outflow areas by allocatingpart of airplane fuel tanks to store water. The increased efficiency ofthe thrust resulting from the addition of water into the outflow gasseswill require less fuel for the airplane to travel the same distance,thus allowing it to use that freed fuel tank space to store water orother liquid or gaseous substances that can be used for the purposes ofcreating an increased pressure zone in the gaseous outflow area of theengine. Alternatively, a jet engine propelled vehicle can be equippedwith a device which would collect condensing water from the atmosphere,therefore eliminating the need for a large storage tank of water. Forthe purposes of this application water may also be used in its solidstate—ice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a prior art jet engine consisting of the following mainunits: an inlet (1), compressor (2), fuel inlets (3), a combustionchamber (4), turbine (5), nozzle (6), and outflow gasses (7).

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment jet engine consisting of thefollowing units: an inlet (1), compressor (2), fuel inlets (3), acombustion chamber (4), turbine (5), and nozzle (6), outflow gasses (7),storage container for special substances (8), pipe to deliver specialsubstances into nozzle area (9), special substances (10), “virtual wall”generated by special substances (11), inlets (12), a valve (13) whichoptimally regulates flow of special substance

FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment jet engine consisting of thefollowing units: an inlet (1), compressor (2), fuel inlets (3), acombustion chamber (4), turbine (5), and nozzle (6), pipe to deliverwater or another liquid substance (9), container of substance (8), avalve (13) which optimally regulates flow of special substance, aspecial nozzle (14) to deliver substance in the optimum physical andgeometrical form for maximum thrust creation

FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment jet engine consisting of thefollowing units: an inlet (1), compressor (2), fuel inlets (3), acombustion chamber (4), turbine (5), and nozzle (6), pipe to deliversubstance to the area behind the jet engine nozzle (9A1), pipe todeliver substance into the air inlet area of the jet engine (9A2),container of substance (8A), valve that will control the release of thesubstance behind the jet engine (13A1), valve that will control therelease of the substance in front of the jet engine (13A2), specialnozzle to release the substance behind the jet engine (14A1), specialnozzle to release the substance into the air inlet area of the jetengine at optimum intervals and in optimal form (14A2).

FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment jet engine consisting of thefollowing units: an inlet (1), compressor (2), fuel inlets (3), acombustion chamber (4), turbine (5), and nozzle (6), pipe to deliverfirst substance to the area behind the jet engine nozzle (9A1), pipe todeliver first substance to the area in front of the jet engine (9A2),container of first substance (8A), valve that will control the releaseof the first substance behind the jet engine nozzle (13A1), valve thatwill control the release of the first substance into the air inlet areaof the jet engine (13A2), special nozzle to release the substance behindthe jet engine at optimum intervals and in optimal form (14A1), specialnozzle to release the substance in front of the jet engine at optimumintervals and in optimal form (14A2), container of another substance(8B), valve that will control the release of the other substance intothe air inlet area of the jet engine (13B2), special nozzle to releasethe other substance in front of the jet engine at optimum intervals andin optimal form (14B2)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although specific embodiments of the invention will now be describedwith reference to the drawings, it should be understood that theembodiments shown are by way of examples only and merely illustrative ofbut few of many possible specific embodiments which representapplication of the principles of the invention. Various changes andmodifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the inventionpertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation ofthe invention as further defined in appended claims.

First preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 2. A jet engine equippedwith the device that delivers special substance in the form ofexpandable plastic balls into the interior area of the jet engine to bemixed with the gaseous outflow. In addition to the traditional parts thejet engine, proposed in this invention includes, a pressurized storagecontainer (8) filled with expandable plastic balls (10) with thepressure inside of the container to be similar to or greater than thepressure of gases in the nozzle (6) during operation, a pipe (9) todeliver expandable balls into nozzle area and a control valve (13) whichoptimally regulates flow of special substance (plastic balls) (10) intothe corresponding area of the jet engine through the inlet (12).(Delivery of the balls to the other areas of the engine interior canalso be considered). Because pressure in the storage container (8) andpipe (9) is similar to the pressure in the nozzle area, balls will keepthe original size while being delivered into the nozzle area. When suchcompressed balls will exit the jet nozzle they will start to expand asthe pressure of gaseous outflow outside of the nozzle will reduce. Suchmultiple expanded balls will create the “virtual wall” (11) which willprovide additional support and thrust to the newly arriving gaseousoutflow.

The second preferred embodiment shown on FIG. 3 schematicallyillustrates a possible configuration for the jet engine equipped with adevice to add water or another liquid substance into the area behind thenozzle. Pipe unit (9) equipped with flow rate control valve (13)delivers water from the water storage tanks unit (8) into the nozzlearea. By placing the pipe openings outside of the nozzle and in thedirect path of the hot gaseous outflow, the delivered water willevaporate and create an extra high-pressure zone, which will serve asthe “virtual wall”. The end of the pipe (9) may be equipped with aspecial nozzle (14) to deliver liquid substance in the optimum physicaland geometrical form for maximum thrust creation.

The third preferred embodiment shown on FIG. 4 schematically illustratesan approach when special substance is added into multiple areas of thejet engine. In addition to the device to add water or another liquidinto the area behind the nozzle through pipe unit (9A1) equipped withflow rate control valve (13A1) delivering water from the water storagetanks unit (8A) into the nozzle area, the second pipe 9A2 delivers waterinto the air inlet area. The rate of flow of water through pipes 9A1 and9A2 should be chosen and constantly adapted by control valves 13A1 and13A2 to maximize the jet engine thrust.

The fourth preferred embodiment shown on FIG. 5 schematicallyillustrates an approach when multiple special substances are added intomultiple areas of the jet engine. In this embodiment the second storagetank is proposed (8B) to store oxygen which is delivered to the airinlet area through pipe unit (9B) equipped with a flow rate controlvalve (13B) in order to further enhance the jet engine thrust and aspecial nozzle (14B).

1. (canceled)
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled) 6.(canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled) 11.(canceled)
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled)
 14. The method of claim 19,wherein the increased pressure zone behind the jet engine outletprovides a support for the jet engine outflow gasses to be pushedagainst.
 15. The method of claim 19, wherein the increased pressure zonebehind the jet engine outlet is being continuously generated.
 16. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the increased pressure zone behind the jetengine outlet is generated at optimum time intervals.
 17. The method ofclaim 19, further comprises a step of adding special substances to thegaseous outflow of the jet engine resulted in increased thrust power ofthe jet engine.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of addingthe special substances to the gaseous outflow of the jet engine resultsin an increased fuel efficiency of the jet engine.
 19. A method foradding substances to a gaseous flow of a jet engine by means of amultiplicity of breakable members containing an expandable fluidsubstance capable of being increased in volume, wherein the jet enginecomprises a body having an interior extending between a jet inlet and ajet outlet discharging an exhaust gas flow, said method comprising thesteps of: delivering the breakable members containing the fluidsubstance to the jet engine outlet; mixing said exhaust gas flow withsaid breakable members; breaking said breakable members; and releasingsaid fluid substance into the gaseous flow causing creation of increasepressure zone behind the jet engine outlet.
 20. The method of claim 19,wherein a rear nozzle is associated with the jet engine outlet, saidmultiplicity of breakable members is delivered to said jet engine outletthrough said rear nozzle.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein saidexpandable fluid substance is a gaseous substance selected from thegroup including oxygen, hydrogen, and water vapors.
 22. The method ofclaim 19, wherein said expandable fluid substance is a liquid substanceselected from the group including water and alcohol.
 23. The method ofclaim 19, wherein said breakable members have a ball-shapedconfiguration.
 24. The device of claim 19, wherein said expandable fluidsubstance is a mixture of water and oxygen.
 25. The method of claim 19,wherein said steps of breaking said members and releasing said fluidsubstance causes creation of a virtual wall providing an additionalsupport and thrust to newly arriving gas flow at the jet engine outlet.26. The method of claim 19, wherein said breakable members are made frombiodegradable materials.
 27. The method of claim 19, wherein thebreakable members are held in a compressed state in a storage tank underpressure that is similar to or higher than a working pressure at the jetengine outlet area.
 28. The method of claim 19, wherein water is addedinto an area behind the engine outlet.
 29. The method of claim 19,wherein a mixture of water and oxygen is added into the air inlet of thejet engine.